On the bus since 67
Understanding a little bit by 70
Now after over fifty years I still enjoy these sounds daily
They bring moments of reflection and great joy in our current time of covid19
The trump virus
Memorial Day 2020 everything is so different from the days of long ago
No more dancing in the aisles for now at least
However and nonetheless I thank God to be able to escape Back to a time at the Sportatorium 5-22-1977
86
45
2020

Won't add much more except to note this terrific little tidbit that I've never heard anyone else point out: Right at the beginning, just after Funiculi as they're counting off to MNS, someone in the band - can't tell who - yells "What are we doing?! WHAT ARE WE DOING?!" before launching into a scorching Music to open things up. Listen carefully and you'll catch it, it's awesome, captures this band, as someone downthread described them, at the very peak of their creative and performance powers. Easy, tight, impromptu, crisp, fluid, awesome.

Does anyone know where the jerry moore AUD version of this show went? It was on archive but I assume they took it down since they released a commercial version of this show (dick's pick vol. 3).

And frankly, that is an understatement. Not only is this Florida show inspired and technically - flawless - in both its singing and playing (which is rarer than hen's teeth,) it has got to be the finest soundboard recording of the band ever done. I have been listening closely (with the volume way up) for years, and I haven't heard The Boyz misplace one single note. For five musicians to not misplace a single note for an entire show, well, I would have said that was absolutely impossible. But they did it! Moreover, like throughout the whole month, they are completely relaxed and totally focused tonight... Like Ali at his best.

And the audio goes far beyond anything I have yet to hear from any other recording. Well balanced vocals and instruments with just the slightest touch of reverb. Sweet and mellow comes to mind. Put them all together, and you have pure magic. I have so many favorites in this show (Sugaree included...and yes, it is the best ever done), I'd just be boring you. Well, maybe I'll add that this show turned me completely around on Lazy-Supplication. And now that I'm thinking about it, after having this review up all these year, I rearranged the first set by putting H-S-F as the 1st set opener with Sugaree following it. God, what a start to achieving perfect bliss. I definitely agree with Dick for his first '77 pick.

Of the two thousand three hundred something shows The Boyz ever did ..... 5.22.77 is my - Numero Uno - #1 favorite show with 5.8.77, 9.2.80, and 8.19.80 right behind it.

I'm here to express my love for the opening jam in "Eyes of the world". I always love a lengthy opening jam from "Eyes", anything 3 mins and over and you know you're in for a good one. This jam is very chill sounding. Everything Jerry is playing during the jam is bliss. Good stuff. Some of the cleanest, chillest jamming ever

This is the best Help>Slipknot to my ears.

The leftovers were worthy of inclusion.

I remember grabbing a copy of the first Dick's Picks at the record store back around 1993. It was confusing! Where did this cd bootleg come from??

Why, oh why, Dick and GDM thought it wise or acceptable to cut these shows up and give us a few tracks here and a few tracks there will boggle my mind until I die. Dick, of all people, should have never agreed to using the butcher knife on these hallowed shows. WTF? I have every Dick's pick they kicked out, but I have never been happy or good with that decision. Then we have the whole archive.org issue of stealing SBD streams, too.......bad juju.

If I had to pick a favorite from May it would probably be this one. Just look at the setlist!! To add to that they play nearly flawlessly. This Dancing in the Streets is my favorite and to my ears it is the finest version they ever played. Many of the Dancing's from May sound quite similar but this one has a standout Jam. Jerry is just simply feeling it and adds this extra high part that I dont hear duplicated in any other version. Bobby's rhythm is super sweet too!

to label tracks.

El Paso
Peggio
Minglewood
Friend of the Devil
Ramble on Rose
Brown-Eyed Women
Good Lovin'
e: Sugar Magnolia

I cannot fathom why Dick Latvala elected to exclude these songs from DP3. One of the reasons I don't play DP3 very much is because it is not the complete show. I'm fussy that way. Frankly, I can't even lay my hands on it after a brief search for it, being so long since I've listened to it.

Look at all these Jerry songs that didn't make the cut...Peggy-O, Freind of the Devil, Ramble On Rose, Brown-Eyed Women...WTF?

So, during this month of May 2012, I am downloading every Spring '77 show that I can and am kicking myself for not owning the shows that made it to official release. It is nice that GDP or whomever else is in charge (GDP doesn't exist any more, IIRC) has allowed these songs to remain available on the Archive.

Once I do find DP3, I look forward to assembling the show in its proper sequence. Then, and only then, can I make a fair comparison to other Spring '77 shows.

5 stars. Duh.

Let it be written, let it be said. Sure, Barton's a terrific show -- as most of the spring '77 shows are. But this is better than Barton, whose reputation rests just as much on its long-time availability as the tape everyone had.

You want proof? Listen to the almost one-hour run on the third DP3 CD from Estimated > Eyes > Wharf Rat > Terrapin > Morning Dew.

Ain't nothin' like on it on this green Earth. Even on 5/8/77.

If my word's not good enough, even Dick himself said that this show "tears apart Barton. It rips it to shreds."

I, too, have taken the 8 songs here and placed them in the appropriate order in a DP3 playlist to get the complete show. And what a show it is.

The name SPORTO should be writ larger -- much larger -- than Barton.

Bob!! and yes it was an audial perfection show technically and performance wise flawless!!!!!! Saw them again there at Sportatorium the following year w. Brett Midland (Rest In Peace)very different stage set up and sound did not look the same without Keith's huge Grand Piano on stage w/ the Steel your Face flag draped over it and that Majestic Kings chair he sat in w/ the High back. That truly was a most excellent show all the way around I count myself very Lucky to have been there that night! God rest Jerry and all that have passed through that family (GD family) Love you all!

Top
Right on Chomskyan Sib had it well.
Barton was my first stream and download here in the Archive. This is my first review, under any name, too.
My brilliant 16 year old, Jerome Sage's download and Archive history start from this Sportatorium.
This is such a cool show.

Maybe this show doesn't get so much love because it was chopped and a super early DP. If you take these leftovers and your DP and burn the whole show to 3 CD's with everything in the right order, this show is absolutely amazing, maybe the best of the month (yeah, that's right). Music-Sugaree...Cornell doesn't open like that kids. Lazy-Supp, Dancin'...Cornell same, Cornell Dancin' better but not much, this Lazy-Supp better. And don't forget, now we're talking about a 1st set with Peggy-O, Friend of the Devil and Ramble On Rose. It's electric.

2nd set. Just an all-time Help-Slip-Frank outta the box, Cornell gives up the immortal Scarlet-Fire. Touche. Cornell goes right to Estimated-Stephen-NFA-Stephen-Dew, yep that Dew. Excellent stuff, but a bit short, no? After the H-S-F here we get a cooking Samson, not 1 of my personal fav songs, but this version sizzles. Then a nice little Brown-Eyed/Good Lovin' sequence. I usually don't love Good Lovin' post-Pigpen but this is really good. Then Sunrise, very sweet, and you can see the diversity of this 2nd set compared to Cornell. Then we get the monumental Estimated-Eyes (great 77 Eyes w/ nice soft jam into...)-Wharf Rat-Terrapin-Dew, not 5-8 I grant you but it's close, this Dew is superb. Up at Cornell we get a Saturday encore, here it's Sugar Mag, a longer, better song.

Conclusion: I'm not going to take a definitive stance. Both 5-8 and 5-22 are great, great 77 Dead shows. My point is that it is entirely possible to suggest that 5-22 is the better all-around show and should therefore be in the "Best Ever" discussion for those that think 77 is in that discussion. Ya follow?

Love this version of Sugaree, worth buying DP 3 for 30 bucks or whatever it is...

Last Post said: "Keith teases what one day became Foolish Heart during Franklin's which is pretty cool."

I'm sorry to rag but this is a totally ridiculous statement. Both tunes (Franklin's and Foolish Heart)are based around an A maj chord to D maj, except Franklins throws in G maj inbetween A & D. So obviously jams in etiher tunes will sound very similar. But that doesn't mean anything Keith played in '77 became Foolish Heart 12 or so years later. Keith wasn't teasing anything, he was just jamming in 'A'. There are only so many combinations you can come up with when you just jam around one tonal center (A).

Plus Foolish Heart sucked and Jerry was in no position by the time Foolsih Heart was written to clearly remember anything from '77!

Great show with one of my favorites 2nd sets, especially the order of the songs. Keith teases what one day became Foolish Heart during Franklin's which is pretty cool.

haven't heard these, but i've had DP#3 forever and its one of the best shows of the year. THE SUGAREE, folks - 16 minutes of mellow bliss. Lots of other standouts, too; MNS, HELP/SLIP/FRANKLIN'S, LL/SUPP, and an INCREDIBLE second set that is like one big flowing river. extraordinary EYES and WHARF RAT, and capped off with a great AM DEW. seek out this pick and get these leftovers for another complete show to add to your '77 collection.

8 songs and mostly Bobby?!

Why bother?

Not only is the Sugaree the best version ever (which is saying a lot), but the solo in this version may be the most inspired Jerry solo EVER.

I would be shocked if someone could point me to a more inspired Jerry performance.

This show is the fucking shit! Without a doubt, this is the best show of 1977 (except maybe the 5-7-77, 5-8-77, and 5-9-77 shows at Boston Garden, Cornell University, and Buffalo Memorial Auditorium). Then again, all the May 1977 shows are awesome!

Help on the Way -> Slipknot! -> Franklin’s Tower is easily a top-3 of all-time, and one could argue this is the best sequence ever performed! Wharf Rat, Terrapin, DEW, and then Sugar Magnolia for the encore is about the best ending to a show you can get! The band is totally on, and Garcia is in a class by himself, when it comes to this amazing show!

Dick’s Picks Vol. 3 only released 8 songs from Pimbroke Pines:

1. El Paso
2. Peggy-O
3. New Minglewood Blues
4. Friend Of The Devil
5. Ramble on Rose
6. Brown Eyed Women
7. Good Lovin'
8. Sugar Magnolia

Try to find the others on-line somewhere! Virtually impossible… Guess what? I have the entire concert burned on CD. Before speedingarrow.net was shut down, I was able to download every other song from this concert. Consequently, I have all 24 songs from this incredible mind-blowing concert!!!!! And the quality and clarity of these songs is second-to-none!

Doesn’t get any better than this, everybody! This is the show that everybody wants, but that most people don’t have.

If you want this show, feel free to contact me and we can trade, or something. I’d be happy to burn this show, in exchange for another rare show that you may have that I don’t have.

Check out my other reviews from other awesome Grateful Dead shows!!

Danny from Northern Virginia outside of Washington, D.C.
East-Coast Deadhead
rfkrox44@hotmail.com

PEACE-OUT!

Wow. This whole show is sublime. Bobby's non-duplicable riffs. The space created within the release and outside of the release is simply grate.

The Peggy-O is fucking awsome. Thanks Jerr

But the impecable sound quality found on Dick's Pick makes the 13 bucks on itunes cheap. To hear them in top form in such good sound is about all you can ask for. Leftovers can be found at Sugarmegs.org

This show surpasses everything that the band ever did. period. The sound whether intentional or not, is the most pleasant output of sound waves that the band has ever created. This is THE PEAK. Listen to it carefully if you want to hear artists making music at the Apex of their playing ability.

Help > Slip > Frank and Wharf > Terrapin > Dew is out of this world. Great great great show. Get it.

This one of my favorite 77 shows. The Music here is incredible and this is my favorite 77 Dancin, Jerry's guitar just makes you want to get up and dance.

As good as Cornell is, with its Jack Straw and Brown Eyed Women, the monstrous Scarlet>Fire and the spectacular climax on Morning Dew, this show beats it, in my opinion. While there are some minor vocal flubs in the 5/8 show, this show is absolutely flawless.
Show starts out with Phil thundering on the bass during Music, and the Sugaree is by far the best ever. The peaks Jerry hits will knock you on the floor. No other version comes close. I'd put this Dancin' up against Cornell any day, and the Help>Slipknot!>Franklin's is one of the best of 77, with 5/9 and 6/9.
Jerry is masterful in the second set. His tender fluttering along the frets at the end of Eyes, with a little help from Billy and Mickey, bring the band flawlessly into Wharf Rat. The Wharf>Terrapin>Morning is a perfect end to a phenomenal show. Buy this Dick's Picks, if for no other reason than a monster Sugaree

Eyes>WR>TERP>DEW is magical.

5 starts to the dude on whistle in the crowd too.

assuming you've entered the bittorrent realm, you can find the remainders on bt.etree.org. i seeded them a while back but can reseed again. mail me gcsadoti at yahoo dot com.

:-(

This is easily the best "Dicks Picks"buy it....close second is 12-26-79

watch out for the wharf rat> terrapin> morning dew! the Music to open the show is pretty hard core too.

Where are the leftovers? Dick gave those to Gans several years ago as he often did with the original Picks releases.

Unfortunately this is not true any more. All too often, we find a few tracks from a second date used as filler material. And the rest of the second show disappears from the archives. The newest issue is another example of this new mentality which sucks..

This show doesn't do it for me the way it does the other reviewers, but it is still excellent. I do want to agree that the Help> Slip> Franklin here is wonderful. The main reason I'm writing this now is to simply note that I think the jam at the end of Franklin's Tower is one of the most beautiful jams I've ever heard from the Dead. The play between Keith's simple, repetitive riff and Jerry's guitar is marvelous...

Check out Jerry after the bridge on MNS. Excellent boogie-down solo on the lower strings.

...but where are the leftovers at?

No, it's not my favorite, but it's REAL close. Mr. Latvela picked a good one indeed 'cause the Boys were ON this night. Super setlist, super sound, super show. And without question, the BEST, emphasize BEST, Sugaree EVER!!!

If you are a fan of the Jerry dominated three song stretch known as Help>Slip>Franklin's, then this is the show for you. This particular series will take your breath away. However, there are many more gems to be found throughout this show.
The opening Music Never Stopped is tight and comes complete with a near perfect mini-jam at the end. The Sugaree is nothing less than brilliant; of all the versions of this special song, this one ranks second only to the slightly more blissful and longer version played two shows previously at the Fox Theater in Atlanta.
The second set is sweet as hell also. Check out the segue from an abbreviated Terrapin right into Morning Dew. This Dew is also quite remarkable, with a long, spiraling jam that starts out very quite and mellow and progresses into a full-out assault on the auditory senses. This show deserves a listen, and another, and another. It wasn't by coincidence that Dick picked this show as the first '77 offering to the public.